Coronavirus: making decisions about treatment

Resources

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This practical guide includes the information you need to understand how treatment and care decisions are made, how you can plan ahead to ensure you stay in control of these decisions, and who to talk to and share your wishes with.

This new booklet is designed to help people who have been recently diagnosed with a terminal illness find the information they need and ask questions, so that they can make informed decisions about their treatment and care – helping them to live well in the time they have left.

A new research report reveals mismatch between Clinical Commissioning Group policies and the reality faced by patients. Patients report doctors being ill-equipped to support them to plan ahead for their future care and treatment.

In late 2011/early 2012 Compassion in Dying contacted all Ambulance Trusts in the UK with a Freedom of Information request, which asked questions on their Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) policy, end-of-life care registration systems, out-of-hours care and the use of Advance Decisions (formerly known as living wills).

Prompted by callers to the Information Line – who voiced concerns that paramedics might not have access to their Advance Decision – we contacted all Ambulance Trusts in England and Wales to find out what systems they have in place to record patients’ medical treatment preferences in the event that they lose capacity and whether patient preferences are adhered to.

This factsheet explains what cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is, CPR success rates, how to refuse CPR, what a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) form is, how to get a DNAR form, and how a DNAR differs from an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment.

A pilot service in East London was evaluated 2013/2014. Numbers reached, learnings from the project, case studies and how this has informed the roll out to seven Age UKs across England are reported on.

Our new report details findings and recommendations from a pioneering project aimed at supporting Lambeth’s Portuguese-speaking communities to consider, document and share their preferences for care and treatment, thereby facilitating more meaningful discussions between Portuguese-speaking people and health and social care professionals.

My Life, My Decision was an ambitious, multifaceted programme of work aiming was to support people aged over 50 to think about and plan their care in advance, helping to ensure they have the death that is right for them.

Most people have some form of opinion about how they would like to be treated at the end of their lives, regardless of their identity or background. For LGBT people in particular, your identity might have an impact on the treatment and care you would like to receive.